Photo taken with a mobile phone shows a view of Beijing, the capital of China, Aug. 24, 2020. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

BEIJING - The ecological restoration of Beijing's rivers and lakes, combined with efforts at water conservation, have resulted in a significant rise in the groundwater level, the Beijing Water Authority said Monday.

ALSO READ: Beijing keeps raising the bar

Pan Anjun, director of the authority, said that the city's overall groundwater reserves in the plain areas have increased by 2.94 billion cubic meters since 2021

As of 2021, the groundwater depth in the plain area of Beijing had risen by 9.64 meters over a six-year period, the authority said. Meanwhile, the over-exploitation area in the Chinese capital decreased by 82 percent compared with 2015.

ALSO READ: Beijing Paralympics set to leave lasting legacy

Pan Anjun, director of the authority, said that the city's overall groundwater reserves in the plain areas have increased by 2.94 billion cubic meters since 2021.

In previous years, Beijing suffered from water shortages, with river water drying up and the groundwater being over-exploited. Authorities responded to the challenges by various means, including ecological water replenishment and water conservation efforts.